Amtrak North Dakota Accessibility Upgrades: US Rail Improvements

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Introduction

Amtrak has completed accessibility upgrades at five North Dakota stations, including Devils Lake and Williston, with a total investment of approximately $30 million. These improvements, which enhance safety, comfort, and passenger experience, are part of the ongoing project along the Empire Builder route.

Station Upgrades

Amtrak has enhanced five North Dakota stations: Devils Lake, Fargo, Rugby, Stanley, and Williston. These upgrades are part of a broader initiative to improve accessibility and passenger experience across the Amtrak network.

Devils Lake Station

The Devils Lake Station, originally built in 1907 by the Great Northern Railway, received a $4.5 million upgrade. The enhancements include a new 300-foot concrete boarding platform with a brick finish, accessible paths, a snowmelt system, sloped walkways, safety barriers, energy-efficient LED lighting, detectable warning systems, and new signage. Michael Baker International was the designer of record, Collage Companies was the general contractor, and Construction Engineers of Grand Forks served as a major subconsultant. Additional subcontractors included Klemetsrud Plumbing & Heating, Strata Corporation Ready Mix, Integrity Steel Supply, Quality Coatings and Tile, Missouri Basin Materials, Wir3d Electric, Bartsch Electrical, Berger Enterprises, Opp Construction, and Widseth Smith Nolting.

Stanley Station

Stanley Station, constructed in 1922, saw $0.4 million in improvements. The project added an accessible path to designated parking, repaired and replaced detectable warning systems, updated signage, and refreshed the interior. STV was the designer of record, with Krische Construction Inc. as the general contractor. Local subcontractors included American Engineering Testing and Benchmark Land Surveying.

Williston Station

Williston Station, which opened in 1910, underwent a $10 million upgrade. The upgrades feature a 700-foot concrete boarding platform with brick finish, accessible paths, a snowmelt system, sloped walkways, railings, egress, energy-efficient LED lighting, detectable warning systems, new signage, and refreshed interiors. Michael Baker International served as designer of record, with Krische Construction Inc. as general contractor. Subcontractors included A&A Landscape, American Engineering Testing, Industrial Contract Services, Mowbray & Sons, Fargo Glass, and Almquist Welding.

Funding and Future Projects

Amtrak has invested over $1 billion since 2011 in accessibility upgrades across 144 stations nationwide. Seventeen stations were brought into compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act this year, with an additional 50 targeted for completion in the next year. A forecasted investment of $311 million will be allocated for these projects.

Project Goals

These projects are part of Amtrak’s commitment to achieving 100% station accessibility by 2029, enhancing safety, compliance, and passenger comfort while preserving the historic character of the stations.

Conclusion

Amtrak has completed accessibility upgrades at five North Dakota stations as part of a larger initiative to improve passenger experience and station accessibility, with over $1 billion invested since 2011.

Company Summary

Amtrak: Amtrak is a passenger railroad service operating across the United States.

Construction Engineers of Grand Forks: Construction Engineers of Grand Forks is a construction company.

Collage Companies: Collage Companies is a general contractor.

Great Northern Railway: Great Northern Railway was a historical railway company.

Klemetsrud Plumbing & Heating: Klemetsrud Plumbing & Heating is a plumbing and heating company.

Krische Construction Inc.: Krische Construction Inc. is a general contractor.

Michael Baker International: Michael Baker International is a design and engineering firm.

Missouri Basin Materials: Missouri Basin Materials is a materials supplier.

Opp Construction: Opp Construction is a construction company.

Quality Coatings and Tile: Quality Coatings and Tile is a coatings and tile company.

STV: STV is a design and construction management firm.

Strata Corporation Ready Mix: Strata Corporation Ready Mix is a ready-mix concrete supplier.

Wir3d Electric: Wir3d Electric is an electrical company.

Widseth Smith Nolting: Widseth Smith Nolting is an architectural and engineering firm.

A&A Landscape: A&A Landscape is a landscaping company.

Almquist Welding: Almquist Welding is a welding company.

American Engineering Testing: American Engineering Testing is a testing and engineering company.

Bartsch Electrical: Bartsch Electrical is an electrical company.

Benchmark Land Surveying: Benchmark Land Surveying is a land surveying company.

Berger Enterprises: Berger Enterprises is a construction company.

Fargo Glass: Fargo Glass is a glass company.

Industrial Contract Services: Industrial Contract Services is a contracting company.

Integrity Steel Supply: Integrity Steel Supply is a steel supplier.

Mowbray & Sons: Mowbray & Sons is a company.

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